Drive arrangement for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle (10). The drive arrangement (1) comprises a first drive device (2) having a first power electronics (2.1) and a first electric machine (2.2), a second drive device (3) having a second power electronics (3.1) and a second electric machine (3.2), and a cooling circuit (4) for cooling the first drive device (2) and the second drive device (3) by means of a cooling liquid which can be guided in the cooling circuit (4). The first power electronics (2.1) and the second power electronics (3.1) are arranged upstream of the first electric machine (2.2) and the second electric machine (3.2) in the cooling circuit (4). The first drive device (2) has a first housing (2.3) in which the first power electronics (2.1) and the first electric machine (2.2) are arranged. The second drive device (3) has a second housing (3.3) in which the second power electronics (3.1) and the second electric machine (3.2) are arranged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive arrangement system for a motor vehicle and / or a motor vehicle including the drive arrangement system. Background Technology

[0002] In the cooling systems of electrically driven motor vehicles (such as battery electric vehicles, BEVs), the drive units are typically treated as separate units. Inverters, motors, and other components are intelligently circulated with coolant internally, but the entire unit is integrated as a single unit into the vehicle's cooling system. When multiple drive units are used in a motor vehicle, this integration can be parallel or series. Other components requiring liquid cooling are also integrated into the cooling system and located upstream, downstream, or adjacent to the drive units.

[0003] The inverter requires a significantly lower upstream temperature than the motor. The inverter also inputs significantly less heat to the cooling system than the motor.

[0004] When multiple drive units are connected in parallel, although all drive units achieve the same inlet temperature, the volumes of liquid to be circulated are superimposed. This results in high volumetric flow rates in all fluid confluence areas of the cooling system (e.g., valve blocks, heat exchangers, and air-to-water coolers). Therefore, very high pumping power and high outlet temperatures from, for example, air-to-water coolers are required.

[0005] When multiple drive units are integrated in series, the inlet temperature of the second drive unit increases significantly because the waste heat from the first drive unit has already heated the coolant. This inlet temperature is limited by the maximum inlet temperature of the second drive unit's inverter. This leads to extreme requirements for, for example, air-water coolers.

[0006] DE 10 2022 132 659 A1 describes a cooling system for a vehicle driven by a hub motor, the cooling system comprising a cooling water passage disposed in the hub motor (which is mounted on the vehicle wheel) such that cooling water for cooling the hub motor can pass through the cooling water passage; a cooling water passage disposed in an inverter for driving and controlling the hub motor such that cooling water for cooling the inverter can pass through the cooling water passage; a radiator for dissipating heat from the cooling water that has cooled the hub motor and the inverter; and a cooling water circulation pipe connected such that cooling water can circulate between the cooling water passage of the hub motor, the cooling water passage of the inverter, and the radiator.

[0007] US 2023 / 0226885 A1 describes a thermal control system for an electric vehicle, which includes a thermal architecture for the drivetrain, a heating arrangement for the passenger compartment, a thermal architecture for the battery, and a cooling arrangement for the passenger compartment.

[0008] DE 10 2022 206 296 A1 describes a cooling system for a vehicle, which includes an engine cooling component for cooling a vehicle electric motor, a cooling element for cooling an inverter that provides alternating current to the electric motor, and a liquid cooling circuit for delivering coolant through the engine cooling component and the inverter cooling element. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In the context of the prior art, the object of this disclosure is to provide an apparatus and / or a method, respectively, which are suitable for enriching the prior art.

[0010] This task is addressed through the features of the independent claims. The parallel and dependent claims each have alternative extensions to the disclosed content.

[0011] Therefore, this task is solved by a drive arrangement system for motor vehicles.

[0012] The drive arrangement system includes a first drive device, which has a first power electronic device and a first motor.

[0013] The drive arrangement system includes a second drive unit, which has a second power electronic device and a second motor.

[0014] The drive arrangement system includes a cooling circuit for cooling a first drive unit and a second drive unit using a coolant that can be guided (e.g., circulated) in the cooling circuit. In the cooling circuit, the first power electronics and the second power electronics are positioned upstream of the first motor and the second motor, respectively. In other words, during operation of the drive arrangement system, the coolant first flows through the first power electronics and the second power electronics, and then flows through the second motor and the first motor.

[0015] The first drive device has a first housing, in which a first power electronic device and a first motor (optionally completely) are disposed.

[0016] The second drive unit has a second housing, in which a second power electronics and a second motor (optionally fully disposed) are housed.

[0017] It is conceivable that the cooling circuit can be designed not only to cool the first and second drive units, but also to heat them. Accordingly, the cooling circuit can also be designed as a temperature regulating circuit to regulate the temperature of the first and second drive units by means of a temperature regulating fluid that can be guided (e.g., circulated) in the temperature regulating circuit.

[0018] "Provided in the cooling circuit" should be understood as at least one section of the cooling circuit being constructed in and / or on a first power electronic device, a second power electronic device, a first motor, and a second motor (and optionally one or more other components). For example, these components may each have one or more channels through which coolant is guided as it circulates in the cooling circuit. This allows for direct or indirect heat exchange between the components and the coolant, thereby cooling the components.

[0019] To cool the first power electronic device and the first motor, a cooling circuit may extend into and out of the first housing (e.g., through an opening and / or connector in the first housing). Similarly, to cool the second power electronic device and the second motor, a cooling circuit may extend into and out of the second housing (e.g., through an opening and / or connector in the second housing).

[0020] "Upstream" and "downstream" refer to the arrangement of components in the cooling circuit relative to the flow direction or delivery direction of the coolant during the operation of the drive system. If the first component is located upstream of the second component, the coolant flows through the first component first and then through the second component during the operation of the drive system. Therefore, in the aforementioned drive system, the coolant flows through the first and second power electronic devices first and then through the second and first motors. Similarly, if the first component is located downstream of the second component, the coolant flows through the second component first and then through the first component during the operation of the drive system.

[0021] The aforementioned drive arrangement system has a number of advantages. In particular, a drive arrangement system with a cooling topology is provided, which allows the cooling of the power electronics of the multiple drive units to be performed sequentially before the motor cooling of the multiple drive units, and thus provides sufficient forward flow temperature for the components to be cooled.

[0022] Compared to integrating the drive units in parallel into the cooling system, the aforementioned drive arrangement system reduces the required amount or volume of coolant by approximately half or at least significantly, thereby reducing the required pumping power. Furthermore, no additional components are needed to integrate the drive units in parallel, or to branch and merge the corresponding cooling circuits. Compared to integrating two drive units in series into the cooling system, all components are adequately cooled, ensuring, in particular, a sufficiently low front flow temperature for the two power electronic devices.

[0023] The following section details possible expansion schemes for the aforementioned drive layout system.

[0024] The first power electronic device, the second power electronic device, the second motor, and the first motor can be connected in series in the cooling circuit.

[0025] A cooling circuit can, for example, consist of a single, closed cooling circuit. A cooling circuit can also be constructed without branches (or without branches).

[0026] The first power electronics and the first motor can be arranged adjacent to each other (optionally side by side). The second power electronics and the second motor can be arranged adjacent to each other (optionally side by side).

[0027] The first power electronic device may have a first inverter (e.g., for providing alternating current to the first motor).

[0028] The second power electronics device may have a second inverter (e.g., for providing AC power to a second motor).

[0029] The drive arrangement system may include at least one delivery device (for delivering coolant). The at least one delivery device may be arranged in the cooling circuit such that, during the operation of the at least one delivery device and / or the drive arrangement system, the coolant delivered first flows through a first power electronic device and a second power electronic device, and subsequently flows through a second motor and a first motor. The at least one delivery device may be or has at least one pump.

[0030] The first power electronic device may have at least one first power electronic device heat exchanger, which may (optionally for cooling the first power electronic device or for heat exchange between the coolant and the first power electronic device) be provided in a cooling circuit.

[0031] The second power electronic device may have at least one second power electronic device heat exchanger, which may (optionally for cooling the second power electronic device or for heat exchange between the coolant and the second power electronic device) be provided in the cooling circuit.

[0032] The first motor may have a first motor heat exchanger, which may (optionally for cooling the first motor or for heat exchange between the coolant and the first motor) be arranged in the cooling circuit. The first motor heat exchanger may be, for example, an oil-water heat exchanger and / or a stator housing cooling structure.

[0033] The second motor may have a second motor heat exchanger, which may (optionally for cooling the second motor or for heat exchange between the coolant and the second motor) be located in the cooling circuit. The second motor heat exchanger may be, for example, an oil-water heat exchanger and / or a stator housing cooling structure.

[0034] The drive arrangement system may include an air-coolable vehicle cooler. This vehicle cooler may be located downstream of the first power electronics, the second power electronics, the first motor, and the second motor in the cooling circuit. The vehicle cooler may be located at the front of the vehicle and / or cooled by ambient air, such as the wind blowing on the vehicle while it is in motion. This vehicle cooler may also be referred to as an ambient radiator.

[0035] The drive arrangement system may include at least one vehicle component. The at least one vehicle component may be positioned and designed in the cooling circuit downstream of the vehicle cooler and upstream of the first and second power electronics for cooling purposes, such that, during operation of the drive arrangement system, the coolant has a temperature below the maximum forward flow temperature before flowing through the first and / or second power electronics (optionally, just before flowing through the first and / or second power electronics).

[0036] The above content can be summarized in other terms and can be classified as one possible specific implementation of the present disclosure as described below, but the following description should not be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure.

[0037] The drive unit (also called a drive unit) can be broken down into power electronics (e.g., an inverter) and a motor, and then reconnected to each other. Specifically, the coolant can first flow through the inverter of the first drive unit, then through the inverter of the second drive unit, and then through the motor of one of the two drive units or its heat exchanger. Finally, it can flow through the remaining motor or its heat exchanger.

[0038] Other components of the vehicle that need cooling can be integrated into the cooling system, or cooling circuit, at suitable locations. This allows the upstream temperature of all inverters to be kept low. Simultaneously, the amount of coolant needed for cooling the drive unit can be reduced by approximately half.

[0039] In an electrically driven motor vehicle, a first drive unit can be used in the front area and a second drive unit can be used in the rear area.

[0040] The first drive unit in the front region can be separated into an inverter and a motor or a motor cooler (e.g., an oil-water heat exchanger). Similarly, the second drive unit in the rear region can be separated into an inverter and a motor or a motor cooler (e.g., an oil-water heat exchanger).

[0041] The coolant can first flow through the inverter in the front section and then flow rearward in the vehicle to cool the inverter in the rear section. The coolant can then cool the motor (or heat exchanger) in the rear section, flowing forward in the vehicle to cool the motor (or heat exchanger) in the front section. Finally, the coolant can flow to the vehicle's vehicle cooler (or ambient radiator).

[0042] In addition, a motor vehicle including the above-described drive arrangement system is provided.

[0043] Motor vehicles can be cars, especially automobiles, or commercial vehicles, such as trucks.

[0044] The first drive unit may be located in the front area of ​​the vehicle. The second drive unit may be located in the rear area of ​​the vehicle.

[0045] The drive system can be designed such that, during operation, coolant flows through a first power electronic device in the front region, (optionally after flowing through the first power electronic device) is guided from the front region to the rear region via a cooling circuit and flows through a second power electronic device, (optionally after flowing through the second power electronic device) through a second motor, and (optionally after flowing through the second motor) is guided back from the rear region to the front region via a cooling circuit and flows through the first motor. The drive system can also be designed such that, after flowing through the first motor, the coolant flows through the vehicle cooler.

[0046] Motor vehicles can be electrically driven motor vehicles (also known as electric vehicles), such as battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or fuel cell vehicles.

[0047] The above description of the drive layout system also applies similarly to motor vehicles and vice versa. Attached Figure Description

[0048] The following reference Figure 1 and 2 An alternative implementation is described. The accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0049] Figure 1 A drive arrangement system for a motor vehicle according to the present invention is schematically shown; and

[0050] Figure 2 A motor vehicle with this drive arrangement system is shown schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0051] exist Figure 1The drive arrangement system 1 shown only schematically includes a first drive unit 2, a second drive unit 3, and a cooling circuit 4 for cooling the first drive unit 2 and the second drive unit 3 by means of a coolant that can be guided (e.g., circulated) in a cooling circuit 4.

[0052] The first drive unit 2 includes a first power electronic device 2.1, a first motor 2.2, and a first housing 2.3, wherein the first power electronic device 2.1 and the first motor 2.2 are disposed within the first housing. The first power electronic device 2.1 may include a first inverter for providing alternating current to the first motor 2.2, which is disposed, for example, in and / or on a cooling circuit 4 for cooling purposes. The first power electronic device 2.1 may, for example, include at least one first power electronic device heat exchanger disposed in the cooling circuit 4. The first motor 2.2 may, for example, include a first motor heat exchanger disposed in the cooling circuit 4.

[0053] The second drive unit 3 includes a second power electronics 3.1, a second motor 3.2, and a second housing 3.3, with the second power electronics 3.1 and the second motor 3.2 disposed within the second housing. The second power electronics 3.1 may include a second inverter for providing alternating current to the second motor 3.2, which is disposed, for example, in and / or on a cooling circuit 4 for cooling purposes. The second power electronics 3.1 may, for example, include at least one second power electronics heat exchanger disposed in the cooling circuit 4. The second motor 3.2 may, for example, include a second motor heat exchanger disposed in the cooling circuit 4.

[0054] The first power electronic device 2.1 and the second power electronic device 3.1 are arranged upstream of the first motor 2.2 and the second motor 3.2 in the cooling circuit 4. The first power electronic device 2.1, the second power electronic device 3.1, the second motor 3.2 and the first motor 2.2 can be arranged in series in the cooling circuit 4.

[0055] The drive arrangement system 1 includes at least one delivery device 5, such as a pump. The at least one delivery device 5 may be arranged in the cooling circuit 4 such that, in the operation of the at least one delivery device 5 and / or the drive arrangement system 1 (i.e., when the coolant is being delivered or circulated), the coolant being delivered first flows through the first power electronics 2.1 and the second power electronics 3.1 and then flows through the second motor 2.2 and the first motor 3.2.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiment, the drive arrangement system 1 includes at least one air-coolable vehicle cooler 6, which is disposed downstream of the first power electronics 2.1, the second power electronics 3.1, the first motor 2.2, and the second motor 3.2 in the cooling circuit 4. The vehicle cooler 6 is used to cool the coolant, and the vehicle cooler can be located at the front of the vehicle 10 and can therefore be cooled by external air, especially by the oncoming wind when the vehicle 10 is in motion.

[0057] The drive arrangement system 1 may also include one or more vehicle components 7, which may be disposed in the cooling circuit 4. At least one vehicle component 7 may be disposed and designed in the cooling circuit 4 downstream of the vehicle cooler 6 and upstream of the first power electronics 2.1 and the second power electronics 3.1 for cooling purposes, such that during the operation of the drive arrangement system 1, the coolant has a temperature below the maximum forward flow temperature before flowing through the first power electronics 2.1 and / or the second power electronics 3.1.

[0058] It is also conceivable that one or more (not shown) vehicle components for cooling and / or one or more (not shown) components (e.g., valves) may be located at other suitable locations in the cooling circuit 7. This could also be, for example, at a location between any two of the first power electronics 2.1, the second power electronics 3.1, the first motor 2.2, and the second motor 3.2.

[0059] Figure 1 The arrows shown indicate the direction of coolant flow or delivery during the operation of the drive arrangement system 1 (i.e., when the coolant is delivered, for example, by the delivery device 5 and circulates in the cooling circuit 4).

[0060] Figure 2 A motor vehicle 10 including a drive arrangement system 1 is shown, which may be an electrically driven motor vehicle (or electric vehicle).

[0061] The first drive unit 2 may be disposed in the front region 10.1 of the motor vehicle 10, for example, for driving at least one front wheel or front axle of the motor vehicle 10. The second drive unit 3 may be disposed in the rear region 10.2 of the motor vehicle 10, for example, for driving at least one rear wheel or rear axle of the motor vehicle 10. Accordingly, the motor vehicle may be, for example, an all-wheel drive vehicle.

[0062] It is conceivable that the drive arrangement system 1 in the illustrated configuration can be designed such that, in the operating state of the drive arrangement system 1, the coolant flows through the first power electronic device 2.1 in the front region 10.1, is guided from the front region 10.1 to the rear region 10.2 via the cooling circuit 4, flows through the second power electronic device 3.1, then flows through the second motor 3.2, and finally is guided back from the rear region 10.2 to the front region 10.1 via the cooling circuit 4 and flows through the first motor 2.2.

[0063] List of reference numerals

[0064] 1 Drive layout system

[0065] 2 First driving device

[0066] 2.1 First Power Electronic Device

[0067] 2.2 First Motor

[0068] 2.3 First Shell

[0069] 3 Second drive unit

[0070] 3.1 Second Power Electronic Devices

[0071] 3.2 Second Motor

[0072] 3.3 Second shell

[0073] 4 Cooling circuit

[0074] 5 Conveying devices

[0075] 6. Vehicle Cooler

[0076] 7 vehicle components

[0077] 10 Motor vehicles

[0078] 10.1 Front area of ​​motor vehicles

[0079] 10.2 Rear area of ​​motor vehicles

Claims

1. A drive arrangement system (1) for a motor vehicle (10), the drive arrangement system (1) comprising: - A first drive unit (2), which has a first power electronic device (2.1) and a first motor (2.2); - A second drive unit (3), which has a second power electronics (3.1) and a second motor (3.2); and - A cooling circuit (4) for cooling the first drive unit (2) and the second drive unit (3) by means of a coolant that can be guided in the cooling circuit (4), wherein the first power electronic device (2.1) and the second power electronic device (3.1) are disposed upstream of the first motor (2.2) and the second motor (3.2) in the cooling circuit (4), characterized in that, - The first drive device (2) has a first housing (2.3), a first power electronic device (2.1) and a first motor (2.2) disposed in the first housing, and - The second drive device (3) has a second housing (3.3), a second power electronic device (3.1) and a second motor (3.2) disposed in the second housing.

2. The drive arrangement system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first power electronic device (2.1), the second power electronic device (3.1), the second motor (3.2) and the first motor (2.2) are connected in series in the cooling circuit (4).

3. The drive arrangement system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first power electronic device (2.1) has a first inverter for providing AC power to the first motor (2.2), and / or the second power electronic device (3.1) has a second inverter for providing AC power to the second motor (3.2).

4. The drive arrangement system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The drive arrangement system (1) includes at least one conveying device (5) which is provided in the cooling circuit (4) for conveying coolant, such that the coolant conveyed in the operation of the at least one conveying device (5) and / or the drive arrangement system (1) first flows through the first power electronic device (2.1) and the second power electronic device (3.1) and then flows through the first motor (2.2) and the second motor (3.2).

5. The drive arrangement system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, - The first power electronic device (2.1) has at least one first power electronic device heat exchanger, which is disposed in the cooling circuit (4), and / or - The second power electronic device (3.1) has at least one second power electronic device heat exchanger disposed in the cooling circuit (4); and / or - The first motor (2.2) has a first motor heat exchanger, which is disposed in the cooling circuit (4), and / or - The second motor (3.2) has a second motor heat exchanger, which is disposed in the cooling circuit (4).

6. The drive arrangement system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The drive arrangement system (1) includes an air-coolable vehicle cooler (6) which is located downstream of the first power electronics (2.1), the second power electronics (3.1), the first motor (2.2), and the second motor (3.2) in the cooling circuit (4).

7. The drive arrangement system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The drive arrangement system (1) includes at least one vehicle component (7) which is arranged and designed in the cooling circuit (4) for cooling purposes, downstream of the vehicle cooler (6) and upstream of the first power electronics (2.1) and the second power electronics (3.1), such that in the operating state of the drive arrangement system (1), the coolant has a temperature below the maximum forward flow temperature before flowing through the first power electronics (2.1) and / or the second power electronics (3.1).

8. A motor vehicle (10), characterized in that, The motor vehicle (10) includes a drive arrangement system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. The motor vehicle (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first drive unit (2) is disposed in the front region (10.1) of the motor vehicle (10), and the second drive unit (3) is disposed in the rear region (10.2) of the motor vehicle (10).

10. The motor vehicle (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The drive arrangement system (1) is designed such that, during the operation of the drive arrangement system (1), the coolant... -Flows through the first power electronic device (2.1) in the front region (10.1). -The cooling circuit (4) guides the material from the front region (10.1) to the rear region (10.2) and through the second power electronics (3.1). -Flows through the second motor (3.2), and - It is guided from the rear region (10.2) back to the front region (10.1) and flows through the first motor (2.2) by means of the cooling circuit (4).

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